Cleveland Cavaliers’ Draft History (2006-2015)

Over the past 10 NBA Drafts (2006-2015), the Cleveland Cavaliers have made 22 selections, yielding just one All-Star in Kyrie Irving.

The following table details the Cavaliers’ track record by tiers, noting the number of All-Stars and starters selected, along with players who either never made the league or were out in five years or less:

Tier

Picks

All-Star

All-Star Appearances

Starter*

Not in NBA

1-5

5

1 (20%)

3

3 (60%)

1 (20%)

6-10

0

0

0

0

0

11-15

0

0

0

0

0

16-20

3

0

0

2 (66.7%)

0

21-25

1

0

0

0

0

26-30

1

0

0

0

1 (100%)

31-40

4

0

0

0

3 (75%)

41-50

2

0

0

1 (50%)

0

51-60

6

0

0

0

5 (83.3%)

Total

22

1 (4.5%)

3

6 (27.3%)

10 (45.5%)

*Starter criteria determined as an average of 50 or more starts, over at least 40 percent of the player’s career.

The following is the league average over the same tiers:

Tier

All-Star

Starter

Not in NBA

1-5

12 (24%)

30 (60%)

3 (6%)

6-10

8 (16%)

30 (60%)

7 (14%)

11-15

2 (4%)

12 (24%)

8 (16%)

16-20

3 (6%)

10 (20%)

8 (16%)

21-25

2 (4%)

8 (16%)

15 (30%)

26-30

1 (2%)

5 (10%)

20 (40%)

31-40

1 (2%)

11 (11%)

52 (52%)

41-50

2 (2%)

8 (8%)

70 (70%)

51-60

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

87 (87%)

Total

32 (5.3%)

115 (19.7%)

270 (45.0%)

The Cavaliers have picked often in the top five, selecting well with Irving and not so well with Anthony Bennett. While they haven’t found many All-Stars, Andrew Wiggins may eventually reach that status (with the Minnesota Timberwolves). Cleveland gave up quickly on Danny Green, whose success as a starter came with the San Antonio Spurs.

Note that players are included with the team through any draft-day trades. Some teams pick well but let an eventual starter leave for another, but that’s beyond the scope of this article. Recently drafted players have yet to officially pass the “at least five years” test, but were considered as such if on a team’s roster by the end of the 2015-16 season.

Additionally, recent picks who have yet to join the NBA may still do so, but for this analysis are considered “out.”